Black Saturday hero exposed after 20 years posing as Vietnam veteran

He would give snapshots of life on Radar Hill at Nui Dat, where the SAS operated.

But when the school bus driver was asked to elaborate, he would invoke the Secrets Act. In the early morning mist he would pay tribute to those who struggled to readjust to civilian life, and who later took their own lives.

At the Walhalla pub, his war adventures were legendary. Some thought they were too good to be true. They were: Colin Sinclair was living a lie.

Early this month, the would-be war hero confessed to his three children and some mates that he'd been living a double life.

"It was all bull----. It started with one lie and then just grew and grew," said the 63-year-old, who also works as a tourist guide.

"I'm an impostor who has been finally found out. I knew it was going to come one day. Now I'm so glad it's over ... I don't have to live this lie.

"It just got out of control and got to the point where I was hating myself."

Mr Sinclair was outed after his war stories were checked by real Vietnam veterans, who confronted him weeks ago.

He said the lie started when he was first asked to organise the local Anzac Day service, and it was suggested he claim Vietnam veteran status.

"It was thought it would seem better if the service was done by an ex-serviceman instead of an idiot off the street," he claimed.

"Well, as things turned out they did get an idiot ... me."

Mr Sinclair said in his own mind he rationalised the lies by paying tribute to his friends who served.

The closest involvement he'd had with the military was in the army reserves.

"I tried to get into the Army and the Navy, but up here is too dense," he said, tapping a finger against his temple. "I couldn't pass the IQ test."

Nonetheless, he has a keen interest in the military, collecting war memorabilia, notably Vietnam medallions such as the Long Tan Cross.

When people asked to see his war service medals he'd claim to have thrown them in the river in disgust at anti-war protests. "But I've drawn the line at wearing medals, and I've never tried to get a pension," he said.

A couple of weeks ago he purged his guilt, first to his two daughters and teenage son, and then his pub mates.

"My daughter called me a 'bloody idiot' and then told me she loved me," he said.

Last year, Mr Sinclair experienced a form of redemption when the Black Saturday bushfires came close to town.

The bushfires royal commission was told that Mr Sinclair had ushered about 30 people to safety inside the old gold mine where he is a guide.

In his submission to the commission, Simon Anthony Seear, who has a holiday house in Walhalla, said the fire came within a couple of hundred metres.

"We were just lucky in terms of the wind change," he wrote.

"Prior to this wind change, the fire appeared to create its own weather pattern: it was black; the sky was raining mud; it was like black mud was covering everything."

Mr Sinclair can recall seeing the fires bearing down.

"We thought we were dead. Then the wind dropped and it started to rain," he said.

He won't be marching on Sunday, but across Australia some Vietnam veterans will be on the lookout for impostors.

The ANZMI group, set up to expose military impersonators, said members would carry phone and digital cameras to photograph anyone suspected of being an impostor.

WEBMASTER'S NOTE

I feel sure that there will be further updates on this story, stay tuned.

This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from private citizens are supported by statements of fact and statutory declarations.

Kennith John Skelton was the President of the Grenfell NSW Returned Services League for eighteen years.

Skelton gulled the Grenfell RSL members and the Grenfell general community into believing that he was a returned Veteran, and to prove it, he wore an Infantry Combat Badge (ICB) and a General Service Medal (GSM) indicating overseas operational Service.

Here are details of entitlement to the ICB and the GSM

The Infantry Combat Badge (ICB) is awarded to a member of the Australian Army for service as an Infantryman in warlike operations. Skelton was never even a Trained Infantry Soldier, and was never involved in any warlike operations and therefore has no entitlement to wear the ICB or the GSM.

On formal RSL and Cadet Forces occasions Skelton wore an array of other medals. The Grenfell RSL and Cadet Unit must be an inept mob to have allowed Skelton to cheat for so long. The poor quality of the photographs shown below precludes identification of the medals but we can identify the GSM, and maybe an Australian Cadet Forces Medal, the others would be self purchased commemorative tin medals.

Skelton was never a fully trained soldier; he spent only ten months in the Army and was posted to Training Strength (T/S), 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) at the time of his discharge from the Army. Below are his Record of Service and his Interim Discharge Certificate.

We contacted Skelton to get his slant on his behaviour. He denied he had ever done anything wrong or ever worn medals he should not have worn. He went on to say “if that is all the thanks I get for 18 years of work well they can all go and get stuffed”

Being exposed as a fraud, liar and a wannabe has no time limitation. Obviously Skelton duped the people of Grenfell for a lot of years. Now is the time for retribution in the form of being named and shamed on our web site.

Most of those we expose have involvement with Ex Service Organisations (ESOs). The RSL continually produces frauds and liars who hold, or have held senior executive positions. Frauds and wannabes are destroying the fabric of the RSL. These RSL frauds push their way into executive positions so they can live their false military history and publically wear their false medals and trinkets whilst stealing the honour of true veterans.

We will continue to expose frauds, liars and wannabes and we will continue to mention the inability of senior echelons of ESOs to distinguish the difference between the honourable and those who steal their honour.

Kenneth John Skelton is a thief of honour and his true military history will remain on this web site for ever more.

This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from private citizens are supported by statements of fact and statutory declarations.

This Royal Australian Army Pay Corps (RAAPC) Officer looks dashing in his Sam Browne (Regimental Belt) and Sandy Beret at The Brook Tavern, Ellenbrook on the outskirts of Perth Western Australia on ANZAC Day 2013

Slikkerveer is an Army Reserve Pay Corps Officer who has never done anything, that would in anyway suggest he is part of the elite Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) - except for wearing an SASR Beret.

Veterans, ex Servicemen and Women, Serving Men and Women and the general public are now very much aware of our role in the Veteran Community and blatant acts of stupidity, now have no chance of going unnoticed, as is the case with Slikkerveer.

Very few who yearn to wear the Sandy Beret are able to pass the tests that gives them the right to wear it.

Slikkerveer is an Army Captain who does not exhibit the behaviour necessary to be a Reserve Pay Corp Officer or Army Officer of any kind, and we hope his Military superiors and his peers treat him appropriately.

Those who wear the Sandy Beret have proven themselves to be superior in matters of strength, stamina and willpower. In recent times three soldiers, including and Australian, serving in the British Army, perished in the United Kingdom (UK) whilst undergoing the UK SAS selection course.

The Sandy Beret must be earned and must not be worn by pretenders and wannabes like Slikkerveer.

Those who have earned the Beret and those who know of the feats of SASR Troopers, Non commissioned Officers and Commissioned Officers will understand why Slikkerveer is now given a life sentence on our web site.

This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from the private citizens are supported by statement of fact and statutory declarations.

Graham John Slingsby, about 45 years of age, is a deceitful character determined to get his way. He is a manipulator of the truth, a fraud, an imposter and a blatant liar. He is currently a Flying Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. (RAAF)

Some wannabees on this site tell us incredible stories of their bravery whilst in combat, during hazardous secret missions that they have trouble talking about. However, when we ask for documentation of their bravery, they say it has all been destroyed for security reasons.

However, Graham John Slingsby is a different kettle of fish. Slingsby was happy to provide us with documentation that he thought supported his story that he was a former highly decorated NSW Police Officer who had been awarded the National "Commendation for Brave Conduct' award before he joined the Royal Australian Air Force. Slingsby proudly wears this National Commendation for Brave Conduct award on ceremonial occasions like Anzac Day and other official ceremonies.

The National Commendation for Brave Conduct is a silver gilt sprig of mimosa on a blood- red backing ribbon and is worn on the left side.

In the photograph below, Slingsby is wearing a Royal Australian Air Force Flying Officer's uniform with the National "Commendation for Brave conduct" ribbon and the National Medal for 15 years service in the NSW Police Force. This photograph was taken at a recent Anzac Day ceremony and can be found on his Face Book page.

The National Commendation for Brave Conduct is a prestigious bravery award that is bestowed among members of the public including Police Officers for outstanding acts of bravery. Recognition for this award is only achieved when the actions of a person are reported and formally reviewed by the Honours Secretariat and then this information is placed before a the Australian Bravery Decorations Council consisting of fourteen representatives from within Australia. These members then decide if the actions are worthy of an appropriate award.

These include, (1) the Cross of Valour (CV), (2) The Star of Courage (SC), (3) The Bravery Medal (BM) and (4) The Commendation for Brave Conduct. As you can see, the Commendation for Brave Conduct is ranked 4 in importance and is an honorable award.

When these awards are approved, the recipients on all occasions attend Government House and the medal is bestowed upon them by the Governor General in appropriate and moving ceremonies.

Slingsby came under our radar when we were directed to his Face Book page by a reader who saw his photo and recognised him as a former Police Officer in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales in the 90's and early 2000s. It appeared to the reader that the bravery award he was wearing was suspicious.

Slingsby joined the NSW Police in 1987 as a 19 year old. He served as a Police Officer until he left in 2005. He had 18 years service and was awarded the National Medal for 15 years service. He served in the Wagga Wagga area in general duties. He then joined the RAAF in 2006 and commenced Officer Training School, left and sought other employment and then in 2009, he rejoined and recommenced Officer Training School.

Following advice from our concerned reader, we then contacted Slingsby and informed him that we had received information that the bravery award he was wearing in the photograph had been reported to us as suspicious. Slingsby replied that he had genuinely been awarded the Bravery Commendation whilst in the NSW Police and that he would provide ample documentary proof of that fact. He told us that he had no idea why his award was not recorded at the Government Web Site, "It's an Honour" , but said that he would take steps through the NSW Police to have them notify that Department and correct the anomaly.

Slingsby then forwarded the below mentioned documents.

This is a copy of the report of the good policemanship by Slingsby and another Constable in the arrest of a man at Wagga Wagga in 1996.

This is a copy of the invitation for Slingsby to attend Mirage Room, Wagga Wagga RSL Club on the 10th November, 2005 for a Medal/Award Ceremony.

This is a copy of the Certificate of Service of Graham John Slingsby following his departure from the NSW Police Force on the 5th December, 2003. It confirms an award of a National Medal and a Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Slingsby first applied for RAAF Officer Training School in 2006. In April, 2006, he organised that a letter (above) be forwarded from the Personnel Manager of the Wagga Wagga Police Local Area Command to the RAAF Officers Training School informing them of his commendation for brave conduct. In May 2008, he again organised a confirmation of this award to the Officer Training School. No doubt, this was important for him to show the RAAF Officer Training School hierarchy that he was a commendable applicant. Slingsby has advised us that he had the award placed on his RAAF "PM Keys record". This is his Personnel File.

Following our perusal of all this documentation, everything appeared legitimate. However, his name did not appear on "It's an Honour" as the recipient of the National "Commendation for Brave Conduct Award". The alarm bells started to ring, and when we made inquiries at the Wagga Wagga Police Command, we were informed that the Bravery Award Slingsby was presented with was based on a local Commander's recommendation for the incident in 1996. He was subsequently awarded a local Region Commander's "Certificate" for his actions by the then Police Commissioner at the Awards Ceremony. Something he could place on his wall. There is no ribbon, medal or anything else presented with this "Certificate." It is a local award.

Slingsby was awarded this local Region Commander's Certificate in 2005, following his departure from the NSW Police in 2003. He then used this occasion for his own advantage and deceitfully claimed significant higher award status to impress his RAAF Recruitment Officers, his RAAF colleagues, civilian friends, family, and people on Face Book.

He then continued this deception to try and convince ANZMI that this significantly higher bravery award was genuine and was identical to the much lesser local award that he received at Wagga Wagga. He also informed us that he would arrange with the NSW Police Protocol Unit to have his name recorded on It's an Honour" to correct the anomaly. He knows this will not happen. Just another lie. He knows what he is doing. There are no excuses. He is a false pretender and he knows it. He has been caught out.

In our communications with Slingsby, he was continually asked one question that he declined to answer -;

"Is the National "Commendation for Brave Conduct " award that you wear and that you organised to have recorded on your RAAF PM Keys record, the same award that was presented to you at the Mirage Room, Wagga Wagga RSL on the 10th November 2005?" A simple question you would think. However, no answer.

The worrying part about all this is that he is a current serving Commissioned Flying Officer in the RAAF.

Slingsby is a disgrace. He is a disgrace to the RAAF Officers uniform that he is wearing, and he is a disgrace to the NSW Police Force. Many brave NSW Police Officers have been awarded this prestigious award over the years at Government House for their truly brave actions that have saved the lives of others, or their own.

To have someone like Slingsby taking the honour of these brave men and women is despicable. He flaunts this award like he is a hero.

He may have made a good arrest in 1996, but so did dozens of other Policemen and Policewomen who were also awarded Region Commanders commendations. (Certificates)

Slingsby has no credibility. He has manipulated the system and embellished his local award for his own gratification.

In addition, he has purchased the National "Commendation for Brave Conduct ribbon" from a Medal dealer or from an internet supplier. Well knowing that he is not entitled to it.

This fraudulent glory hunting RAAF Commissioned Officer should be hunted out of the Royal Australian Air Force with the speed of an F111. We have done our bit.

John Mark Smets is 51 years of age. He resides at Arana Hills, a suburb of Brisbane. He had 21 years service in the Royal Australian Navy, where he performed the duties of a Combat Systems Operator. (Sonar) He discharged in 2004 as a Leading Seaman and then joined the RAN Reserves.

John Smets is Medal Cheat, a Valour Thief, a Fraud and a Love Rat. He has preyed on vulnerable generous women, who have believed his heroic war stories of being a Naval Clearance Diver, in Iraq and Afghanistan. He uses the disability of war caused Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder to convince these women to give him money and lodgings. When he cannot use them anymore, or they refuse to give him more cash, he moves on to next victim.

Below is a photograph of John Mark Smets.

In the above photograph, Smets is wearing the following medals -;

1. Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) with 3 clasps. (East Timor – ICAT – Iraq 2003.) Entitled to AASM with one clasp only – East Timor.. He is not entitled to wear the ICAT clasp (International Coalition against terror) or the Iraq 2003 clasp.2. Interfet Medal. - Entitled.3. Afghanistan Medal. – Not entitled.4. Iraq Medal – Not entitled.5. Australian Service Medal (ASM) with 3 clasps. (Unknown) - Entitled to ASM with one clasp- Kuwait. Whatever the other two clasps are, he is not entitled to them. 6. Defence Force Service Medal with a 5 year clasp. (DFSM) - Entitled.7. Australian Defence Force Medal. (ADM) - Entitled.8. United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor Medal (UNTAET) – Not entitled.

Above his medal rack, Smets is wearing a Royal Australian Navy Parachute qualification badge. He is not entitled to wear this adornment. He never commenced or completed this course.

The image above is of the Royal Australian Navy’s Parachute Qualification Badge, awarded to sailors who have not completed the SAS selection and CT training cycle, but have completed para training and awarded the standard RAN parachutist wing. This includes the Clearance Divers who now form part of the east coast based TAG-E which is structured around the Sydney based 2 Commando Regiment.

He is also not entitled to wear the above blue coloured United Nations beret and hat badge.

Smets served on a number of ships during his RAN service as a Combat Systems Operator (Sonar). However, he never served in Iraq or Afghanistan in a prescribed war like period, and he is not entitled to wear those medals. He also did not serve for 90 consecutive days in East Timor to be eligible to wear the UNTAET medal.

The above medal is the un-awarded Iraq Medal.

The above medal is the un-awarded Afghanistan Medal.

The above medal is the un-awarded UNTAET medal.

UNAMET/UNTAET medal was established on 9 December 1999. The ribbon has two outer bands of UN blue, representing the UN presence in East Timor. Inside the two bands, there are two equal bars - closest to the blue, the bar is crimson, with the bar closest to the center being sunrise yellow. These colours represent the brilliant and spectacular sunrises and sunsets experienced in East Timor. The center of the ribbon is a band of white, traditionally the colour of peace and hope, the goal this Mission seeks to achieve. Qualifying time of service for the reception of UNAMET/UNTAET medal is 90 days.(Wikipedia)

Smets was never a Clearance Diver with the Royal Australian Navy. That statement is also false.

Smets has been an incorrigible liar for many years. We have been sent statutory declarations from a number of extremely generous women who invited him to live in their homes, because of his alleged acute battle fatigue and lack of finances.

We know that we have only touched the surface with these statutory declarations and we have been assured, that there are many other ladies out there, who are willing to provide further statutory declarations about this Fraud, and his despicable behaviour.

The statutory declarations we have been provided, detail outlandish lies by Smets to ladies to ingratiate himself with them, gain their trust and sympathy and then request financial assistance from them, that he never repays. This behaviour has continued over many years and he has left a trail of disheartened and angry people in his wake.

His lies include -;

• He was a qualified elite RAN Clearance Diver for 20 years.• He was “dux” of his class at the Clearance Divers Course, and his name is engraved on their Honour Board.• He became a RAN Clearance Diver Instructor and trained and tested potential clearance divers in Sydney Harbour.• He served in war like theatres in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as a RAN Clearance Diver.• He shot a female in Afghanistan who was subsequently found to have explosives on her.• Whilst in Afghanistan, he held down the femoral artery of a wounded colleague, and applied pressure for as long as he could, before watching his colleague die.• He cleared IED’s (Improvised explosive devices) in Iraq and Afghanistan by laying on his stomach and scratching the ground with his fingers, to recover the device.• He suffers acutely from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.• Due to the clandestine operations he was involved in, all his military records are classified as “Secret”, and they cannot be accessed by anyone.• He was a RAN Clearance Diver during the Brisbane Floods.• Although he has acute PTSD, he went to Bond University and qualified as a Solicitor and a Barrister. He came first in his Law Class.• He is a qualified DVA Pension Officer and Advocate.• He needs money to send the body of his recently deceased father back to Belgium to be placed in the family vault.• He is suffering Testicular and prostate cancer, and needs money to pay for his ongoing treatment.• He does not attend Anzac Day ceremonies now, as he gets too depressed.

We have also been advised by senior Redlands Returned & Services League (RSL) Sub Branch (Qld) officials, that Smets tried to ingratiate himself in their Sub Branch affairs. He claimed that he was a Barrister, and was giving advice on Department of Veterans Affairs pensions, to their members. Most of the time, the information supplied was was found to be incorrect. It was subsequently revealed that he was never a Barrister, a Solicitor, a qualified Pension Officer or an Advocate. He was immediately given the boot by the Redlands RSL, once his fraudulent claims were discovered.

Above are further recent photographs of Smets for the information of any other women or RSL Sub Branches, who could fall prey to John Mark Smets.

We welcome Mr Smets to the growing list of frauds, military imposters and love rats who appear on this site.

Smith is the President of the Glenroy, Melbourne, Returned and Services League (RSL). He has been a “Returned Veteran” member at Glenroy RSL since 1972

11 Jul 2013

14th Jul 2013

He has never served in the Australian Defence Force and has no entitlement to be an ex Service member of the RSL. He is a liar, fraud, cheat and wannabe who has deceived all those who surround and trust him, including his “friends” and family.

The Glenroy RSL are not prepared to accept the truth about Smith and have fumbled and stalled, however, the Victoria State RSL Headquarters took quick and simple action by requesting Smith produce evidence of his bona fides by a given date. He has not produced evidence because he cannot. We are confident that the RSL, will, after due process, deal with Smith in an appropriate and decisive manner. That action will be advised in a future update.

See below the Glenroy RSL Website listing Smith as their current President:

We are reliably advised that his registration at the RSL contains the following information:

Lance SMITH DOB 16 Sep 43

Area of service - SVN – ARA (South Vietnam – Australian Regular Army)

Regimental Number: 376438

Address: xxxxxxxxxxxxx Westmeadows - Vic 3049

Ph: (H) - xxxxxxxxxxx

Email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Financial member of Glenroy RSL.

He has always made it known to members of the Glenroy RSL that his Vietnam Service was with 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), on their first tour of Vietnam during 1965. He stated to some, that his “tour” consisted of three months to others, seven months and again seven weeks.

Here is a newspaper article that appeared in the Melbourne Herald Sun on 26 April 2013

When being interviewed by a journalist Smith produced a heavily black ink censored document, that he said proved he was a Vietnam Veteran, he would not allow the journalist to read the document but the journalist noticed there was reference to a “Lieutenant Colonel M” and also the Reference number B1794791. If you type that number into search engine Google with the word “Court” a document relating to a 2011 Court Martial of a “Lieutenant Colonel M” will appear. Below is the front page of the document. The whole document is easily found using Google as suggested above

We contacted the author of the document and received the following advice:

“Dear Mr XXXXXXXXXx

I can advise that the number B1794791 is a unique identifier assigned to the document by AGS’s electronic document management system. As the number is unique and software generated, I do not believe it would have been used on a document prepared in 1966, other than by coincidence.

Yours sincerely

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Corporate Secretary

Australian Government Solicitor

T 02 6253 7204 M 0419 628 350”

What are the chances of Smith’s document containing the words “Lieutenant Colonel M” and having the serial number B1794791 being different from the document we have located? It can be concluded that the document that Smith waves around has nothing to do with his military history and further illustrates, the extent this con man will lie and cheat to “prove” he is a Vietnam Veteran

National Archives Australia (NAA) are unable to locate a Defence Service File for Smith:

“National Archives of Australia National Reference Service

Reference: NAAxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

CARO - COULD NOT IDENTIFY

Thank you for your enquiry regarding Lance Smith 376438.

Post World War II Army records are held by the Central Army Records Office (CARO), Department of Defence. They have advised us that they were unable to locate a record for this individual based on the following information:

Name: Lance Smith

Date of birth: 16/9/1943

Service number: 376438 (no such number)

Period of service: 1965-1973

Please note that CARO can provide the records of Australian Army service personnel only. If the serviceperson served in another branch of the Australian Defence Forces (Air Force or Navy), please visit our website for information on how to access these records. If the person served in a foreign army or a private organisation, our website also provides contact details for other archival institutions.

We wish you all the best with your research.

Yours sincerely,xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Reference Officer

National Reference Service”

Tel: xxxxxxxxxx”

Smith has said he served under a different Surname but used his Christian name. We have checked military records and it is a fact that no person with the Christian name of “Lance” served with 1RAR in Vietnam during 1965.

All Australian Veterans, since the First World War, remember their Regimental number, Smith claims that his was 376438. He quoted that number when he joined the Glenroy RSL; he also has a set of “Dog Tags” (metal identification tags that are worn around the neck by soldiers) with that number engraved on them. In fact, that Regimental number has never been issued by the Department of Defence to any person. He claims he changed one number of his Regimental number when he joined the RSL.

Again it is easily proven that no person with a Christian name “Lance” and a Regimental service number with one different number, from that quoted above served with 1RAR in Vietnam in 1965.

We phoned Smith and sent him emails on numerous occasions to give him the opportunity to explain his military service, and advise why Central Army Records Office (CARO) could not locate a file, and why his name is not listed on the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Vietnam Nominal Roll. Here are two unedited rambling examples of his attempt to explain the lack of information about his Military Service.

xxx as I said I would send you an email ,will not understand the situation however I spoke to my solicitor today anyway the problem is that back in 66

I was a witness in case re stolen weapons I had severe threats which after this and have worried about my wife ,any after today he is going to apply for a document to send to you this will take approx 7 - 10 days get ,if you promise to destroy it, I will post if you can supply your address if its ok. this is all I want to say at this stage dont like emails

Lance Smith”

Considering that Smith claims to have served in Vietnam in 1965 and the “case of stolen weapons” occurred in 1966, there is no reason for Smith to claim to have served under a different name. In any case, before the Vietnam War he was known as Lance Smith, during the Vietnam war he was known as Lance Smith, and from the end of the war until today, he is still Lance Smith.

Our response:

“13 Mar

to Lance, bcc: xxxxxxxxx

Dear Lance Smith

Please give me the name of your Solicitor and will save him the trouble and expense of locating your document.

I have no interest in "Secret documents" or events that occurred after your Vietnam service with 1RAR in 1965.

Have handled hundreds of enquiries and have no problem in establishing the truth as will happen in this case.

Mr xxxxx I understand you phoned the RSL again last weeek ok, I have been told not to contact you however I know that xxxx and xxxxxxxt sent you the email in the first place we tracked that, firtsly i changed my number to keep quite what happened in 65,which is my business.

This morning we have been to the city to Australian Federal Police HQ, I have not committed any offence but doing this I will be suspended by the RSL. for the number change .The AFP want to know how you onbtained files from various places DVA,CARO,and other places,they know who you are,you listen to people who i have not seen since i was 17 years old who have not a clue what i have done,and i am being victimized”

You are a liar, you have never served in Vietnam and have been fooling the RSL since 1972.

Please give me details of the AFP Officer who has taken your complaint and I will be happy to brief him as to how a search was done to establish whether or not you have ever served in the Australian Defence Force.

It is our intention to expose you as a liar, cheat and wannabe on our web site in the very near future”

During a telephone conversation (relayed by a welfare officer, because Smith has had throat surgery for cancer) Smith claimed to have served under a different name and also claimed to have had his name removed from the Department of Veterans Affairs Vietnam Nominal Roll, for the safety of his family because he was witness in a weapons theft.

Smith claims to have been granted an Intermediate Pension (Gold Card) from DVA. All Vietnam Veterans who contract cancer are looked after by DVA. We challenge him to produce a DVA Entitlement Card. The truth of the matter is that he has no DVA Card.

We strongly suggest that Smith is not known by DVA

At this stage we have no photographs of Smith wearing Vietnam Medals, but we are reliably advised that he wears them on commemorative occasions. We are confident that after publishing this on our web site, recent photographs of Smith wearing false medals will be sent to us.

Notice in the photograph below that Smith is wearing a Returned from Active Service Badge (RASB)

Returned from Active Service Badges, are issued by the Australian Government to those returning from warlike service. The RASB is a personal issue and not issued to relatives of deceased ex-members. Each Badge has a serial number registered to the recipient. The Badge Smith is wearing can not be his, and clearly provides evidence that Smith is falsely claiming to be a “Returned Veteran”.

We spoke to a genuine Vietnam Veteran, Welfare Officer/Vice President from the Glenroy RSL who is a good friend of Smith; he vouched unequivocally for Smith as being a genuine Vietnam Veteran. The Welfare Officer/Vice President is either asleep on the job, or part of the plot.

Smith, for Forty One years has enjoyed the false status of a Returned Serviceman. To have planned and perpetrated this act, he must be a miserable human being, always anxiously awaiting the tap on the shoulder that would expose him as a liar, cheat and thief of honour. His “tap on the shoulder” has arrived and it is time for Smith to clean out his President’s desk and get the hell out of the Glenroy RSL where he does not qualify to be an ex Service Member.

It is a painful reality that ex Service Organisations are intent on building membership numbers at any price. Ex Service Organisations should be doing the work that we do, preserving the dignity of their iconic organizations, however, ex Service Organisations have succumbed to our “touchy feely” society and gone “overboard” with politically correct confidentiality doctrine.

We implore Ex Service Organisations Australia wide to audit their membership and weed out criminals like Smith before they are able to further influence and corrupt their organization. Smith is a criminal because he has committed an offence against the: Defence Act 1903 Part VII, Section 80A

80A. Falsely representing to be returned soldier,

The maximum penalty for that offence is a fine $3,300 or six months imprisonment or both.

In recent years we have exposed many Wannabe ex Service Organisation Presidents and senior executives, here are some of them.

If we can stumble over so many, we shudder to think how many more Wannabes there are out there, who have infiltrated the Veteran Community and taking advantage of Veterans benefits and privileges without the burden of having to earn them.

Smith is a blatant conman who has been able to fool everybody, for Forty One years, he has conned the Glenroy, Sub Branch of the Returned and Services League, local politicians, his family and the general public into believing he is a returned Vietnam Veteran. It is also remarkable that over 12 years ago he was the elected President of The Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, North West Sub Branch.

He has mistreated his family and conned them into believing that his disgraceful behaviour towards them is because of his Vietnam experience. On the “Pecking Order Chart” of Wannabes he is in the category of those lower than snake’s bellies. His years of “doing good” at the Glenroy RSL mean nothing, because his presence is based on planned and executed deception.

As is the case with many wannabes, Smith, knowing that he has been caught, now feigns illness and blames ANZMI. We have no guilt, we doubt he is really ill, and if he is, the fault lies squarely on his dishonest, lying, cheating, wannabe shoulders.

Smith has no place in the Veteran Community and he should be excised like an unwanted wart.

Having lost his place in the RSL we are happy to allow him to occupy space on our web site for his posterity.

We urge all Ex Service Organisations to audit their executive membership and take appropriate action before we have to.

If you see Lance Smith ask him to do any of the five actions shown below to prove his Military Service:

Quote his Regimental number.

Produce his DVA Treatment Card.

Quote his RAS Badge number.

Produce his Record of Service or Discharge Certificate

Introduce you to a 1RAR Veteran who will attest to serving alongside him in Vietnam

Be assured this snake can’t do it

11th May 2013

Lance Mailer Smith

Have no doubt, Smith is a fraud, medals cheat, wannabe and despicable liar. He is sticking to his story that he is a Returned Ex Serviceman who served in Vietnam. The corner that he has painted himself into is getting smaller, perhaps soon he will concede he has been living a lie for more than forty years. In our original exposure we asked for a photograph of Smith wearing medals and here he is:

The photograph was taken in the 1990s when he was elected the inaugural President of the North West Sub Branch, of the Vietnam Veterans Association Australia (VVAA). He is wearing the full “Monty” of medals and badges:

Australian Active Service Medal

Recognises service of Australian Defence Force and certain other persons in prescribed warlike operations for service only during the period 1945 to 1975. Recipients of Vietnam Medal (29/5/64-27/1/73

Vietnam Medal

Eligibility - 28 days in ships or craft on inland waters or off the coast of Vietnam. One or more days on the posted strength of a unit or formation on land. One operational sortie over Vietnam or Vietnamese water by aircrew on the posted strength of a unit. Official visits either continuous or aggregate of 30 days. One day or more by members of accredited philanthropic organisations attached to Australian forces in an official capacity for full-time duty

Vietnam Campaign Medal

The Australian government maintained the basic qualifying criteria specified by the Republic of Vietnam for allied troops. To be eligible for the medal a person must have completed a minimum period of 181 days, either continuous or aggregated, unless: killed on active service (KIA); wounded in action i.e. classified as a Battle Casualty and evacuated as a result of those wounds; or captured and later released or escaped. Note that medical evacuation from the area of operations for any reasons other than wounds received in action does not constitute an exemption from meeting the minimum qualifying period

Infantry Combat Badge

Members of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps who in an infantry posting as part of an Infantry Battalion were deployed for at least 90 days to an operational area.

Returned from Active Service Badge(shown as a smudge on his left lapel)

The Returned from Active Service Badge (RASB) is issued to Australian Defence Force personnel who have rendered warlike service.

Smith has no entitlement to wear any of the above. Not only did he not serve in Vietnam, he has never served in the Defence Force anywhere at any time.

Smith has not, and cannot produce evidence of his service because he has none.

Based on lies and deception he has been a member of the Glenroy Returned Services League (RSL) for Forty One years. He has been President of a Sub Branch of the VVAA and he has been President of the Glenroy RSL.

There are members of the Glenroy RSL in despair because of the level of dishonesty and fraud perpertrated by Smith who was a trusted friend. They would have been better off befriending a Red Back Spider.

We urge all ex Service organizations involved with Smith at all levels, to wipe his name from Honour Boards and expel him with ignominy.

7th Jun 2013

Update Lance Smith - His daughter is revolting

Tirades from unbelievers are all part of the work description at ANZMI. Below is Smith’s daughter telling us that although Smith is a liar he is a “good man”. We are also accused of causing Smith to have “Strokes”. Strange how the “strokes” occurred on the very first day that Smith knew that his forty two years of fraud and deception were over.

The good lady also challenged us to print her email, we have risen to the challenge and iterate that for the last forty two years Smith has been deliberately deceiving the Veteran Community and his family. We also wonder if Smith received honorariums and other benefits for his work with ex Service Organizations, because if he did, the Police may desire to knock on his door in relation to receiving benefits from his fraud.

Veterans all over Australia are sickened that this moron could persist for forty two years with his deception including being elected President of two major ex Service Organisations. He even invited friends to attend his “Military Unit” Association functions, and introduced them to people he claimed to have served with in Vietnam – duhhhhhhh. There is no doubt that Smith is a very skilled con man and we are confident that his suddenly developed “Strokes” are more of his evil antics.

We now apologise for saying that Smith is “Lower than a snakes belly” because such a statement is an insult to snakes everywhere. Now read his daughter’s email:

My name is xxxxxxxxxxxx and you say horrid things about my father in fact intimidate him to point of strokes.

Who are you, you COWARD of a thing?? No contact telephone number or a post office address just a crap shit to post more shit to distress myself son & sister who just had brain surgery you idiot.

How dare you write my father mistreated his children? where did you get the bullshit information? a man lower than a snakes belly! you bastard gutless thing.

Dear xxxxxx xxxxxx he is either asleep at his desk or in on the plot!!!!!

What are you?????????????????????

My father a liar YES why I'll never understand because he is a GOOD bloody man that has a serious problem and put shit on what he done down at that club. He is a BIG LIAR HE STOOD UP where no other person would so piss off with his good meant nothing, I was his voice mate and I know what he did was not good GREAT. He helped people he did a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who ever you are that wrote that crap about his abuse, better have that information 100% right because I WILL be seeking legal advice OK and if you are indeed a man and have the gut give me a call AUK pal and you won't know what coming your way. My number is 03 xxxxxxxxxx AUK

I am also telling you I did not wish to communicate via email, you leave no other option gutless, I warn you put this email on your site for the world to see, I will take legal action as I have provided you my PRIVATE telephone number.

I hope to speak to the thing real soon. THE MAN LOWER THAN A SNAKES BELLY DAUGHTER

The unfolding court drama will be reported as Smith plays out his legal rights. There are now many genuine Veterans in State Police Forces throughout Australia who abhor the theft of their honour by people like Lance Smith.

Wannabes, liars and frauds in the Veteran community have never had a greater opportunity for a meeting with a Magistrate.

14th Jul 2013

Lance Smith Update - The Final Chapter

On 1 July 2013 ANZMI finally got Lance Smith, the former President of the Glenroy RSL, before a Magistrate.

The Magistrate had this to say during the hearing (inter alia):

“Veterans have fought and died to earn the right to be awarded medals.I cannot see an offence treated so lightly, in 28 years I have never dealt withsuch a despicable case. Veterans sacrifice deserves respect.

For 41 years nobody detected these fraudulent activities. It now becomes a difficult sentencing matter.”

The Prosecutor said (inter alia)

“Smith's actions are an insult to the brave men and women who have given their lives in the defence of Australia, Vietnam veterans with PTSD see the actions of SMITH as a "Kick in the teeth"

The Magistrate continued

"Stand up Mr SMITH - I see no application for restitution. Your behaviour is disgraceful - you are an insult to our brave men and women who served with distinction, sadly some of these veterans paid the ultimate price. This court must denounce your actions at the Glenroy RSL - let me state quite clearly that without the character evidence given by Mr LANCASTER and your age (69) I would have sent you to jail for six months today. How you got away with this charade for 41 years is beyond me.By your illegal wearing of medals you put yourself out as a Vietnam veteran. That was the greatest insult to genuine Vietnam veterans.

On charges three and four I sentence you to imprisonment for six months under Section 20 (suspended for 12 months) - and fine you $2000.00 - (Improper use of decorations &impersonate a veteran).

On charges one & two, Proceeds of crime and financial deception, you are fined $2500.00 Time to pay Commencing 1 AUG $250 PER MONTH UNTIL PAID IN FULL.Now released to the community”.

Glenroy RSL executive were unable to grasp the reality that their long time “friend” was a lying, cheating wannabe. Smith’s deception required a lot of detailed planning throughout the entire 41 years of his fraud. The Victoria State President of the RSL said “he was disappointed that the RSL did not twig it earlier but they are pretty clever people the way they do it”

Smith’s demise was a classic case for ANZMI.

A member of the public reported their suspicions to ANZMI. After an initial investigation, we had reason to believe the allegations were true. ANZMI determined that Smith had no Defence Service Record of any kind, and advised the State Police, the Glenroy RSL and the RSL, Victoria StateHeadquarters. After careful analysis of the responses from Smith, it was determined that Smith was a liar, cheat and wannabe and he was exposed on our web site.

When cornered Smith feigned serious illness and resigned from the RSL, and perhaps thought he was ahead of the game, until the Police arrived at his doorstep and charged him with various offences, for which he was found guilty and received an appropriate punishment.

Be aware that if you are a lying wannabe your door may be next the Police knock on. Police or not, we will expose you on this web site.

Smith’s fate is a model for what awaits those who steal the honour of Veterans.

This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from private citizens are supported by statements of fact and statutory declarations.